I agree, ventilation is still king for attic temps, but I’ve noticed that lighter shingles can shave off a few degrees, which adds up over a summer.
That’s interesting—does anyone actually notice a difference inside the house with lighter shingles, or is it just something you see on a thermometer in the attic? I keep hearing “ventilation matters more,” but if the shingle color really helps, I’d consider it. Also, for hail, are Malarkeys actually lasting longer or just less likely to look trashed after a storm? I’m trying to figure out if the extra cost is worth it or if I’m just paying for marketing.
That’s interesting—does anyone actually notice a difference inside the house with lighter shingles, or is it just something you see on a thermometer in the attic?
I wondered the same thing before I bought my place last year. The house had these old, dark brown shingles and the upstairs was always roasting by late afternoon, even with the AC running. Ended up replacing the roof (went with a lighter gray, not white but definitely not dark) and honestly, I did notice it was a bit less stuffy up there this summer. Not night and day, but enough that the AC didn’t have to work as hard.
As for Malarkey, my neighbor swears by them after a hailstorm trashed most of our block. His roof looked almost untouched while mine and a bunch of others had dings and granules everywhere. That said, he paid quite a bit more. I’m still not sure if it’s worth the premium unless you’re in an area that gets hammered by hail every year. For me, I just wanted something that wouldn’t cook the attic or my wallet.
- Totally get what you mean about the AC running nonstop.
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That’s honestly what I’m hoping for too—just a little less heat upstairs.“not night and day, but enough that the AC didn’t have to work as hard.”
- I’m leaning lighter gray myself, but still nervous about the price jump for Malarkey.
- Kind of wish I could see a side-by-side comparison after a hailstorm, but I guess you don’t know until it happens.
- Sounds like you made a solid choice balancing cost and comfort. That’s encouraging.
I get the sticker shock on Malarkey, but honestly, lighter gray is a smart move for heat. You’re right, you never really know how they’ll hold up until that first big hailstorm rolls through. I’ve seen Malarkey take a beating and come out looking a lot better than some of the cheaper brands, but yeah, it’s not a magic bullet. If you’re mostly after keeping the attic cooler, color probably matters more than brand anyway.
Sticker shock is real, but I’ve seen Malarkey hold up better than most after hail—definitely not perfect, though. Are you also looking at attic ventilation? Sometimes that makes a bigger difference for heat than shingle color alone, at least in my experience.
